...Is the exploration and experimentation of early film making. I had never appreciated that a narrative structure – found in theatre and often taken for granted in film nowadays – was not assumed straight away, but rather had to find the audience. Was this because it was silent? That no one could talk to drive the plot, thereby making it more visual? Cinematic 'spectacle' – trickery, sensation, getting the audience introduced to and marvelling at this new medium and new potential was probably more obvious, as seen with the early work of a train coming straight for the audience, was a large part of early cinema, as can be seen in the works of Melies for example. It used 'theatricality' – like props, make-up, sets, actors, even some shots were like viewing from the audience in a stage - but in no way was really linked to a theatre play. It celebrated it's difference. Narrative driven film, indeed, was made more viable and perhaps necessary as films became longer, as a plot seemingly had to be conceived of, but one gets the sense that this was not inevitable, only that it became popular, and, seeing as films were made for commercial gain, this style found it's audience and it's makers.
Thanks for reading peeps! xx
